Mounting and triggering mechanisms for first person actuation of a camera by an internally mounted remote camera actuator in the form of a handle grip are disclosed for use in any applicable activity, without limitation, such as sporting, recreational, documentary filmmaking and/or photography, or the like.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus comprising: a hand-held device configured to be held in a hand; a first mounting feature for connecting at least one camera component to the hand-held device, the first mounting feature including: a socket structure comprising a retaining piece, the retaining piece comprising opposing inner locking portions that are disposed orthogonally to an axis of the socket structure, and one or more grooves into which the socket structure is set; a second mounting feature for integrating a remote control device for wirelessly operating a camera with the hand-held device; an actuation control structured to actuate a capture button on the remote control device in response to being selected so that the camera captures one or more photographs or stops or starts capturing video and/or audio footage; and a mating post on the at least one camera component, the mating post comprising: side slots along two opposing sides of the mating post, the side slots on the mating post fixable engaging with the inner locking portions of the retaining piece when the mating post is inserted into the socket structure at least in parallel to the axis of the socket structure and the at least one camera component is subsequently rotated from an insertion orientation to a locked orientation, and one or more guide pins that come into contact with the first mounting feature when the hand-held device and the at least one camera component are connected, the one or more guide pins slide within the one or more grooves as the at least one camera component is rotated from the insertion orientation to the locked orientation, wherein the one or more guide pins and the one or more grooves cooperating to restrain an angle of rotation of the at least one camera component relative to the hand-held device to a locking angle.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the first mounting feature further comprises a locking bar configured to restrict rotation of the at least one camera component from the locked orientation to the insertion orientation unless the locking bar is manipulated to disengage a locking feature on the locking bar from a locking receiving feature on the hand-held device.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the first mounting feature allows two opposite orientations of the at least one camera component relative to the hand-held device.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera component comprises the camera.
5. An apparatus as claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera component comprises at least one of a camera boom, a side grip, a suitcase grip, and a pole device.
6. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the second mounting feature for integrating the remote control device comprises a remote control compartment accessible by a hinged door on a side of the hand-held device, the remote control compartment being sized and shaped to accept the remote control device.
7. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the second mounting feature for integrating the remote control device comprises a retaining clip disposed at an end of the hand-held device and that secures the remote control device with a front face of the remote control device facing toward a body of the hand-held device.
8. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the second mounting feature for integrating the remote control device comprises computer circuitry that implements the remote control device functionality as part of the hand-held device.
9. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the actuation control comprises a trigger button configured to be pressed by an index finger of the hand in which the hand-held device is configured to be held.
10. An apparatus as in claim 9 , wherein the actuation control further comprises a mechanical arm that is deflected or moved upon the trigger button being depressed, the mechanical arm pressing the capture button on the remote control device.
11. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises an action camera.
12. A method of operating a handheld device, the method comprising: connecting a mating post of at least one camera component to a first mounting feature of a hand-held device, the hand-held device further comprising a second mounting feature that integrates a remote control device for wirelessly operating a camera, the first mounting feature comprising: a socket structure comprising a retaining piece, the retaining piece comprising opposing inner locking portions that are disposed orthogonally to an axis of the socket structure, and one or more grooves into which the socket structure is set; and the mating post comprising: side slots along two opposing sides of the mating post, the side slots on the mating post fixably engaging with the inner locking portions of the retaining piece when the mating post is inserted into the socket structure at least in parallel to the axis of the socket structure and the at least one camera component is subsequently rotated from an insertion orientation to a locked orientation, and one or more guide pins that come into contact with the first mounting feature when the hand-held device and the at least one camera component are connected, the one or more guide pins slide within the one or more grooves as the at least one camera component is rotated from the insertion orientation to a locked orientation, the one or more guide pins and the one or more grooves cooperating to restrain an angle of rotation of the at least one camera component relative to the hand-held device to a locking angle; holding the hand-held device; and operating an actuation control, the operating causing a capture button on the remote control device to be actuated to cause the camera to capture one or more photographs or to stop or start capturing video and/or audio footage.
13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one camera component comprises the camera.
14. A connector system comprising: a first apparatus to be joined to a second apparatus, the first apparatus comprising: a socket structure comprising a retaining piece, the retaining piece comprising opposing inner locking portions that are disposed orthogonally to an axis of the socket structure; and one or more grooves on a first surface into which the socket structure is set; and the second apparatus comprising: a mating post comprising side slots along two opposing sides of the mating post, the side slots on the mating post fixably engaging with the inner locking portions of the retaining piece when the mating post is inserted into the socket structure at least in parallel to the axis of the socket structure and the second apparatus is subsequently rotated from an insertion orientation to a locked orientation; and one or more guide pins on a second surface that comes into contact with the first surface when the first apparatus and second apparatus are connected using the connector system, and the one or more guide pins slide within the one or more grooves as the second apparatus is rotated from the insertion orientation to a locked orientation, the one or more guide pins and the one or more grooves cooperating to restrain an angle of rotation of the second apparatus relative to the first apparatus to a locking angle.
15. A connector system as in claim 14 , wherein rotation of the second apparatus from the locked orientation to the insertion orientation disengages the inner locking portions of the retaining pieces from the side slots such that the mating post can be removed from the socket structure.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 2, 2014
February 16, 2016
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